TEEN LIFE + PROGRAMS

CHAVURA | Grade 8

Students in Grade 8 who wish to be in our Chavura Program will all attend 1st session on Sunday mornings.

Those with an interest in music are encouraged to sign up to be Music TAs—all instruments and singers welcome!

Those who do not sign up to be Music TAs will have teacher training with Rabbi Ben from 9:15 – 10:15 am, and then from 10:15 – 11:00 am, on alternating Sundays, they will:

Work as teaching assistants with younger children in our new D’rachim (“Pathways”) optional arts enrichment program, for students in Grades 4-6; or

Work with Rabbi Ben planning special projects for the Religious School or participating in a tzedakah activity.

This program will help our Grade 8 classroom assistants to be better equipped as they move on to be full teaching assistants in our Religious School next year.

In addition to the above, all Chavura participants will be expected to attend special teen programs, which will be scheduled over the course of the school year.

All Chavura participants are eligible for community service credit for the hours they work. In addition, they will receive an honorarium at the end of the school year.

Chavura participants are also encouraged to attend our weekly Tikkun Olam teen life program on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 – 7:30 pm, where we enjoy a pizza & pasta dinner, meaningful discussions and fun activities together.

We will have an IMPORTANT Orientation meeting Sunday September 8, 9:00 - 10:15 am.

TEACHING ASSISTANT PROGRAM | GRADES 9-12

This program is a special part of our Religious School. Our dedicated TAs assist in our Sunday, Monday, and/ or Wednesday school sessions, either for salary or community service credit. It is always a pleasure to watch both our teens and students thrive from this wonderful collaboration.

TIKKUN OLAM PROGRAM (TK)

Grades 8-12 (Wednesdays, 6:00 - 7:30 pm) Pizza, discussion and a chance to make a difference in the world. This program combines social action and socializing. We take part in tzedakah activities at the Temple Purim Carnival (March 8) and Tzedakah Day (May 17), and all look forward to our annual Shul-in (January 17-18).

NORTH AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEMPLE YOUTH (NFTY)

Through the Union for Reform Judaism, our BESHTY (Beth Shalom Temple Youth) group includes our Tikkun Olam participants and all teens in our congregation. Our teens are welcome to join in NFTY events throughout the year.

CLASSES FOR TEENS

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS HIGH HOLIDAYS

Kayak Tashlich — Come join other teens on the river — in kayaks — to observe this New Year tradition on the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah. Email cantorjoseph@tbshastins.org for more information and to RSVP. Tuesday, October 1, 1:30 - 4:30 pm.

Simchat Torah Service – welcoming new students to the Religious School. We will unfurl the Torah and have a brief Yizkor Memorial Service. Celebratory light refreshments will be served. Every new student will receive his/her own Torah! Friday, October 18, 6:00 pm